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Sausalito · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Sausalito

A home business may use 25% of the home, at most 400 square feet, with 1 non-resident employee; it needs a zoning permit.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: A home business may use 25% of the home, at most 400 square feet, with 1 non-resident employee; it needs a zoning permit.

Each rule below links to the section of the Sausalito Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sausalito's code says

Sausalito code What Sausalito's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of the home's floor area, and no more than 400 square feet per residence.
    § 10.44.030 · code text
    The activity shall be consistent with and clearly accessory to the principal use as a dwelling and shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the floor area of the dwelling, but no more than 400 square feet per residence.
Customer visits
  • Only occasional visitors are allowed.
    Applies: For all home businesses at one residence combined, except occasional garage or yard sales.
    § 10.44.030 · code text
    Any combination of home occupations at a single residence shall allow for occasional visitors except for occasional garage/yard sales.
Employees
  • No more than 1 employee, with conditions.
    Applies: Not counting the resident of the home.
    § 10.44.030 · code text
    There shall be no more than one employee allowed to support a home occupation, other than the actual resident of the subject dwelling, subject to the following conditions:
Permit
  • A zoning permit is required. It is approved only if the home business meets all the criteria.
    § 10.44.030 · code text
    A zoning permit shall be approved consistent with Chapter 10.52 SMC (Zoning Permits) only if the proposed home occupation complies with all of the following criteria:
Businesses not allowed
  • Commercial retail sales, except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(9) (Retail Sales); auto repair or painting; beauty parlor or barber shop or any similar service enterprise; music school, dancing school, business school, or other school of any kind with organized classes or similar activity; medical marijuana dispensary; and outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this title
    § 10.44.030 · code text
    For guidance, the following and similar uses are not allowed as home occupations: Commercial retail sales (except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(9) of this section (Retail Sales)); auto repair or painting; beauty parlor or barber shop or any similar service enterprise; music school, dancing school, business school, or other school of any kind with organized classes or similar activity; medical marijuana dispensary; or any outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this title.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Sausalito?

A home business may use 25% of the home, at most 400 square feet, with 1 non-resident employee; it needs a zoning permit.

General information, not legal advice.

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Sausalito Municipal Code — full text